Barn-gutter cleaner



Dec. 27, 1960 H. H. MCLELAND 2,966,256

BARN-GUTTER CLEANER Filed Aug. 19, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 /N 1 5 N TOPATTORNEYS.

Dec. 27, 1960 H, H. McLELAND BARN-GUTTER CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet ,2

Filed Aug. 19. 1957 AT7URNEYS.

Dec. 27, 1960 H. H. MCLELAND 2,966,256

BARN-GUTTER CLEANER Filed Aug. 19, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 N VENTOR'ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 27, 1960 H. H. M LELAND 2,966,256

BARN-CUTTER CLEANER Filed Aug. 19, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNVEN OR! hm M88 ATTORMSKS.

United States Patent BARN-GU'ITER CLEANER Harold H. McLeland, CedarFalls, Iowa, assignor to Clay Equipment Corp., a corporation of IowaFiled Aug. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 679,026

18 Claims. (Cl. 198-224) This invention relates to a barn-guttercleaner, and more particularly to a scoop means which enters abarngutter and automatically and repeatedly loads itself and disposes ofthe load to the end that the gutter is substantially entirely cleaned ina most efficient manner.

One of the most distasteful, tedious and time consuming jobs on a farm,particularly one that produces dairy products, involves the cleaning outof the barn-gutter.

Attempts and suggestions have heretofore been made to mechanize thisfarm chore, but such prior attempts are either too expensive or not tooefficient. One such suggestion has been used particularly with astraight-run gutter and involves use of a reciprocating piston, orplunger-mounted, scoop which enters the gutter at one end, andscoopful-by-scoopful empties the gutter. Unfortunately such device isuseful only with a straight-run gutter, and then the length of theplunger or piston must be very great to eifect cleaning of the far endof the gutter. Another suggestion involves a continuous chaintypeconveyor that may be disposed in the gutter. The continuousconveyor-type device is expensive, and requires a length of conveyor atleast equal to the total length of the barn-gutter plus a length ofconveyor to bridge the distance between the ends of the gutter. Thecontinuous-conveyor type cleaner also is constantly being exposed toweathering conditions and to fresh waste matter that is deposited in thegutter, all of which causes rapid deterioration of the parts of theconveyor and may result in requiring costly repair. Furthermore, themotor that is provided for operating the conveyor-type cleaner must beof sufficient size to move the entire load that is present in the gutterand hence the cost of such motor is high.

One object of this invention is to provide a novel barngutter cleanerwhich avoids the above noted deficiencies, and which provides aprocedure of cleaning the barn gutter which more nearly simulates thestepwise excavation thereof as would be executed by a person, whichstepwise excavation is felt to be the most desirable mode of operationin performance of the desired task.

In fact, the mode of operation of the novel gutter cleaner hereindisclosed so closely approximates the manner of gutter cleaning as wouldbe manually performed by a person that I refer to my device as a robot.

Thus, my entire device, including the motive means therefor, is arrangedto enter the gutter and pick up, or capture, a scoopful of waste mattertherein, and then the motive means moves out of the gutter taking withit the scoopful of waste matter to be deposited in a waste matterreceptacle, or the like, and then the device returns and takes outanother scoopful of waste matter in the same manner, and this stepwiseprocedure is repeated until the gutter is cleaned.

An object of this invention is to provide a compact motive means andscoop means, in combination, which enters the gutter of a barn and instepwise repetitive operations excavates the waste matter from thegutter. Another object of this invention is to provide anfauto-2,966,256 Patented Dec. 27, 1960 matic barn-gutter cleaner which movesalong the barngutter from one end thereof until it has gathered apreselected load of Waste matter and then automatically reverses itsmovement to take the load of waste matter out of the gutter, and thenagain automatically reverses its movement to go through the same cycle,repeatedly, until the barn-gutter has been fully cleaned.

A further object is to provide a new and improved barn-gutter cleanerwhich is characterized by its mode and means of operation, by itsefliciency, and by its simplicity of construction and operation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a barn having gutterstherein for receiving waste matter and further shows the device of thisinvention disposed in the barns gutter;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a plan view of a typicalbarn that may be equipped with a gutter cleaning device as disclosedherein;

Figure 3 is a side view within a gutter showing the gutter cleaningdevice in elevation, and partly illustrates the operation of the guttercleaning device when moving in the direction of the arrow to effectloading of the scoop means thereof with waste matter in the gutter;

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 and illustrates the movement of thegutter cleaning device, after loading thereof has been effected, in thedirection opposite to the direction of movement shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 illustrates the movement of the gutter cleaning device, at atime subsequent to that shown in Figure 4, upwardly along an elevatormeans from whence the load of waste matter is discharged from the scoopportion of the device;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section view, with some parts in elevation,of the traction means and the adjacent portion of the attached scoopmeans of the gutter cleaning device, and showing the relation of partsat a time just when movement of the traction means has been reversed;

Figure 6A is a view of a fragment of Figure 6, showing the relationshipof parts at a time shortly subsequent to Figure 6, and illustrates thelost motion connection between the traction means and the scoop means;

Figure 7 is an end view, partly in cross-section and partly inelevation, and is taken looking from the left of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one form of scoop means, showing therelative position of the parts thereof when the scoop means is movinginto the waste matter in a gutter in the direction of the arrow shown onthe figure;

Figure 9 is another view of the scoop means of Figure 8 showing therelative position of the parts when the scoop means moves in theopposite direction illustrated by the arrow on the figure;

Figures 10 and 11 are, respectively, similar to Figures 8 and 9, butshow a modified form of the scoop means.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a barn 19 having aconcrete floor 12 and upright walls [14 enclosing the barn area.Accordingto well known and typical floor plan arrangements, asillustrated in Figure 2, a plurality of stalls 16 are provided in aline, in adjacent relation, with a waste gutter 18 extending along therear edge of each line of stalls, and a service alley '19 is arrangedbetweena'pairof waste gutters. The waste structure which is shapedsimilarly to a gutter 18 so as to serve, in effect, as an extension ofthe gutter 18. The elevator means includes upright, spaced, elongatedside walls 22 and 24, and an elongated bottom wall 26. The upright walls22 and -24respectively carry thereon elongated supporting rails, ortracks, 28 and 30, each in the form of structural angles having theupright leg secured to the supporting wall and the horizontal legextending inwardly toward the opposite wall. The rails 28 and 30 extendinto the open upper portion of the channel defined between the uprightwalls 22 and 24 and above the bottom wall 26.

There is also provided a traction means along the elongated elevatormeans, extending substantially longitudinally coextensive therewith.More specifically, there is an elongated rack 32 spaced above thesupporting rails 28 and 30 and supported by appropriate structuralmembers, such as supports 34 and 36 for example, in spaced relation tothe elevator means 20. The rack 32 is formed from an elongatedstructural angle which provides an upright leg 38 which providesrigidity to the rack, and a horizontal leg 40, the free edge of which isformed to define the teeth of the rack.

In the preferred construction, the elevator means slopes upwardly fromthe wall of the barn, as the elevator extends away from the barn. Thelength and slope of the elevator means may be appropriately selected sothat a discharge station in the elevator 'means may be selected anddisposed at a selected height above ground and at a selected distancefrom the barn, so that a waste receiving means, such as a dump truck,may be moved into a position to receive discharged waste directlythereinto from the discharge station on the elevator means. Thus, at anappropriate point along the elevator means 20, the bottom wall isapertured at 42 to serve as a discharge station. The size of thedischarge station aperture 42 is selected relative to the size of thescoop means as will become apparent hereinafter.

There is positioned in the gutter 18 for'movem'ent there- 'along anapparatus which includes a scoop means generally indicated at 44, and atractor means generally indicated at 46 and connected to the scoopmeans. The tractor means is for moving the scoop means in either ofopposite directions along and through said gutter. Movement of the scoopmeans in one direction along the gutter is for the purpose of effectingloading of waste material, which is located in the gutter, onto thescoop means; and, after waste material has been loaded onto the scoopmeans, the movement of the scoop means in the opposite direction acts totransport the loaded scoop means to the discharge'station where thescoop means may be unloaded. Means are also provided for automaticallyregulating the length of run of the tractor and scoop means in bothdirections along the gutter. One terminus of the length of run of thetractor means and scoop means is governed by the location of thedischarge station at which the scoop means is unloaded of the wastematter that has been gathered therein, while the terminus of the run inthe opposite direction varies, as the gutter is being excavated by thescoop means, since as more material is excavated by the scoop means, thelength of run into the gutter for the purpose of .gathering a load ofwaste will accordingly increase.

As will be seen in the drawings, the scoop means 44 'and'the tractormeans 46 are interconnected by a connectingmeans generally indicated at48, the operation of which will be more fully explained later in thespecification. The scoop means 44 has a forward end 50, which'is tk'c'end that is caused to be driven into the waste matter in the gutter,during the operation of the device when the scoop means is being loadedwith waste matter. The scoop means 44 also has an upright wall 52 at therearward end of the scoop means.

The connecting means 48, which connects the scoop means 44 to thetractor means 46, is spring-loaded by a spring 54. The bias of thespring means 54 is adjustable by means which will be hereinafterdescribed, and operates to provide a pre-set loading, or force, onconnecting means 48, which loading must first be attained by the scoopmeans 44 encountering resistance to further forward movement, and, aftersuch resistance is attained, then other means operate to efiect reversalof movement of the tractor means 46 to start the run of the devicetoward the discharge station.

There is also provided a manual control 56 for atfording selectivemanual control as to the direction of movement of the device, or forputting the tractor means 46 in a neutral condition, wherein it moves inneither direction. Further, a safety control 58 is provided which ispositioned above the gutter and is responsive to en gagement thereofwith a body disposed above the gutter for effecting reversal of thedirection of movement of the tractor means. So much for a generaldisclosure, from an overall standpoint, as to the principal portions ofthe gutter cleaning device and the controls therefor.

Referring now particularly to the details disclosed in the drawings,Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the details of the tractor means and thedetails of the controls therefor, while Figures 8 and 9 illustrate oneform of scoop means, and Figures 10 and 11 illustrate an alternate formof scoop means.

Referring to the first form of scoop means, shown in Figures 8 and 9,said scoop means 50 includes a frame which is dimensioned to enter agutter and to cooperate with the upright walls of the gutter to maintainthe scoop means centered therein. The scoop means includes a pair oflongitudinally disposed, elongated runners 6% and 62, an upright rearabutment wall 52, and a forward movable wall 64. The movable wall 64 ispivoted to the forwardly extended ends of the runners 6t and 62 by meansof pins 66, at points located between the upper and lower edges of themovable wall 64.

The lower edge of movable wall 64 is fulcrumed by means of pins 68 to abase plate 70, which is adapted to lie adjacent the bottom wall of thegutter. The base plate 76 has an inclined upper surface 72 which slopesupwardly and rearwardly from a narrowed leading edge 74. As can be seenin Figure 8, when the scoop means is moving in the direction from leftto right, or forwardly along the gutter into a mass of waste disposedtherein, then the linkage arrangement operates to pivot the movable wall64 into its down position, which is substantially horizontal, orparallel to the upper surface 72 of the base plate 70, and with theforward edge of wall 64 located rearwardiy of the leading edge 74 ofbase plate 76. This arrangement permits entrance of the base plate 76and the pivotable wall 64 under the greater portion of the mass of wastein the gutter, in much the same Way as the edge of a shovel enters intoa mass of waste.

Upon the scoop means 5% encountering sufiicient resistance to furtherforward movement into the mass of waste, the tractor will becaused tomove in the opposite direction and the linkage operates to swing themovable wall 64, from the position shown in Figure 8 to the positionshown in Figure 9, wherein the movable wall 64 is in an upright positionand operates to capture, between it and the upright rear wall 52, a massof waste that will be dragged along the gutter by the scoop means untilthe waste is discharged from a discharge station. When the movable wall64 is swung to the upright position shown in Figure 9, the lower edgeportion of movable wall 64 engages the rear edge 75 of base ,plate 70,thereby n'gidly maintaining the wall 64 in upright .p'o'sition, as thescoop means moves from right to left as seen in Figure 9. The scoopmeans 50 is also provided with a pair of rearwardly extending tongues orrails 76 extending rearwardly of the upright wall 52. These rails 76prevent pivoting of the scoop means 50 about the rearward edge thereof.

In the form of the scoop means 50' shown in Figures and 11, there isprovided a pair of elongated rails 80 and 82, an upright rearward wall84, and a pivotable forward member 86. The forward member 86 has flanges88 extending therefrom and pivoted on pins 99 to the forwardly extendingends of the rails 80 and 82. The edge 92 of wall 86 serves as thefulcrum point about which the wall 86 is pivoted. The opposite edge 94of wall 86 is tapered toward a sharp edge, so that when the scoop meansis moving in the direction from left to right, as seen in Figure 10, theedge 94 acts much the same way as the edge of a shovel in permittingentrance of the forward edge of the scoop means into a mass of waste.Upon movement of the scoop means in the opposite direction, as seen inFigure 11, member 86 is caused to pivot about fulcrum edge 92 so thatmember 86 moves into an upright position and becomes an upright wall,and thus captures a mass of waste between itself and upright rear wall84 for movement along the gutter toward the discharge station. Theengagement of edges 93 of member 86 with the bottom of the guttermaintains member 86 in its upright position, when scoop means 50' ismoving as shown in Figure 11. The upright rear wall 84 of the scoopmeans 50 is provided with rearwardly extending flanges 96 for much thesame purpose as the rearwardly extending rails 76 shown in Figures 8 and9.

As best seen in Figure 6, the scoop means 50, or 50', is provided with arearwardly extending flange 100 located centrally of the lateral edgesof the scoop means and carrying a pivot pin 102 to which the tractormeans may be connected.

The details of the tractor means and the controls therefore are bestseen in Figures 6 and 7, to which reference is now had.

The tractor means includes a frame, generally indi cated at 110, whichis mounted on a pair of wheels 112 and 114. The frame 110 carriesthereon any form of motive means 116, which may either, preferably, be agasoline driven engine or an electrically driven motor. In any event,there is extending from the motive means 116 an upright drive shaft 118carrying a drive pulley 120 for driving belt 122. The drive belt 122 istrained about a driven pulley 124 which is carried on an upright drivenshaft 126, which is-journaled in bearings 128 and 130 carried by theframe 110. The bearings 128 and 130 are maintained in spaced relation bymeans of the tubular collar 131 through which the shaft 126 extends. Thelower end of shaft 126 carries thereon a drive pinion 132 which isretained in position by means of nut 134.

The drive pinion 132 continuously drives a pair of rotatably mounted,free wheeling, bevel gears 136 and 138 which rotate simultaneously inopposite directions and which are rotatably journaled on alongitudinally extending shaft 140. The bevel gear 136 has attachedthereto a clutch jaw element 142, and the bevel gear 138 has attachedthereto a clutch jaw element 144. There is keyed, or splined, to shaft140, for longitudinal movement therealong, a pair of clutch jaw elements146 and 148 which are adapted, respectively, for cooperation with theclutch jaw elements 142 and 144 connected to the bevel gears 136 and138. The spacing of the clutch jaw elements 146 and 148 is greater thanthe spacing of the clutch jaw elements 142 and 144 so that only one pairof clutch elements at a time may be interconnected. The clutch jawelements 146 and 148 are, respectively, provided with grooved collarportions 150 and 152 for receiving, respectively, forked yoke portions154 and 156 which are carried by a rigid yoke frame 158-. The forkedyoke portions 156 and 154, being carried by the rigid yoke frame 158,cooperate with the clutch jaw elements 146 and 148 to maintain thespacing thereof greater than the spacing of the clutch elements 142 and144.

The elongated shaft is mounted intermediate its ends in bearings 160 and162 carried on frame 110. The shaft 140 carries a worm 164 thereon whichsimultaneously drives a pair of worm gears 166, as can be best seen inFigure 7. The shaft 140 also extends rearwardly of bearing 160 andcarries thereon a bevel gear retained in position by nut 171, and thebevel gear 170 operates to drive a second bevel gear 172 carried at thelower end of an upright shaft 174 which is journaled in spaced sleevebearings 176 carried by collar 177 sup ported on frame 110. The upperend of shaft 174 carries a pinion 178 which is positioned, and adapted,to engage with the rack 32 heretofore described, and in the manner asshown in Figure 7.

The yoke 158 has a control plunger 180 therefor rigidly connectedthereto and extending rearwardly through a sleeve bearing 181. There isalso a first forward control plunger 182 which extends forwardly througha sleeve bearing 184. The forward control plunger 182 is shaped so thatthe extended end thereof extends above and forwardly of the rear uprightwall 52 of the scoop means, and carries thereon the safety controlmember 58.

The forward end of shaft 140 extends forwardly of the front bearing 162and is rotatable in a sleeve member 1% carried thereon. The sleevemember carries pin 186 to which the control handle 56 is pivotallyconnected. The control handle 56 extends upwardly from pin 186 and isconnected to forwardly extending control plunger 182 by means of a pinand slot connection, wherein pin 188 carried by plunger 182 extendsthrough elongated hole 190 formed in the control arm 56, therebyproviding a lost motion connection therebetween.

The yoke 158 is also provided with a second, elongated, forward controlplunger 192. The control plunger 192 is part of the connecting means 48that connects the scoop means 44 to the tractor means 46. The plunger192 is pivoted at one end on pin 102 carried on flange 100, and carriesat its other end a pin 194 extending transversely in opposite directionstherefrom.

The frame 110 carries an elongated sleeve beating 196 through which theplunger 192 is adapted to slide. The sleeve bearing 196 is welded inposition, as can be seen, and projects at a slight angle forwardly anddownwardly. The sleeve 196 is slotted diametrically at 197, at its rearward end, for receiving pin 194 therein. The control members 192 isthreaded along its length and carries thereon an adjustable headed nut198. A coil spring 200 is positioned between the forward wall of thetractor frame and the head of nut 198. By adjusting nut 198 along thelength of rod 192, the bias of the spring 200 may be increased ordecreased, as desired. Thus, the bias of the spring 200 establishes apredetermined force which must be imposed upon the scoop means 44 beforethe bias of the spring means 200 may be overcome so as to eflectsufficient movement of the control plunger 192 rearwardly so as toeffect shifting of the yoke frame 158 to the position, shown in Figure6, wherein the tractor means is caused to effect movement thereofrearwardly, or to the left, as seen in Figure 6.

When tractor 46 and scoop 44 are moving forwardly, the push-force fromtractor 46 is transmitted through spring 200 to the scoop 44. Whenresistance on scoop 44 exceeds the bias of spring 200, the tractor 46advances relative to plunger 192, and pin 194 engages yoke 158 andthrows yoke 158 to the position of Figure 6 as tractor 46 advancesfurther. The position of parts in Figure 6 stops further forwardmovement and rearward movement begins, the tractor 46 moving rearwardlyrelative to plunger 192 and scoop 44 until the position of Figure 6A isattained. Then, tractor 46 exerts a pull-force on scoop 44 throughengagement of sleeve 196 and pin 194 on plunger 192.

The frame 110 carries an over-center toggle arrangement which isprovided for insuring the throwing of the yoke 156 and of the clutch-jawelements 146 and 148 to one or the other of the two clutching positions.This toggle arrangement includes a pair of spaced members 202 and 294which are normally biased apart by a relatively stiif compression spring206. One of said members, 202, engages an upwardly extending terminus ofyoke portio'n15 6, so as to transmit the bias of the spring 296 to theyoke frame 158. The other member 264 engages an adjustable abutment 268which is threaded in b'os's 210 on frame 110; and the adjustment ofabutment 208 selectively varies the bias of spring 266.

The frame 110 carries a forwardly extending latch plate 212 having anindented latch recess 214 formed therein for receiving the control arm56. The control arm 56 is adapted to pivot about the axis of shaft 140to permit movement of said arm into and out of the latch recess 214.

The frame 110 also carries a horizontal sleeve bearing 216 which ispositioned transverse to the directions in which the tractor 46 isadapted to move. The axis of the sleeve bearing 216 is disposedsubstantially vertically above the axis of the wheels 112 and 114. Thesleeve bearing carries therein an elongated shaft 218 which carries onits ends a pair of flanged wheels 220. The flanged wheels 22% areadapted for riding on rails 28 and 30, so as to support the tractor 46on said rails as the tractor means moves upwardly along the elevatormeans 20. The flanges 222 on the wheels 220 are arranged to cooperatewith the inner longitudinal edges of the rails 28 and 38 so as tomaintain the tractor centered with respect to said rails as the tractormoves along the elevator means 20.

l The drive wheels of the tractor are of special construc tion, whichwill now be described. As was noted heretofore, the worm 164 on shaft140 drives a pair of worm gears 166. Each worm gear 166 is positioned sothat its axis of rotation is located in a plane perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the tractor, and at an upwardly inclined anglewith respect to the horizontal. Each bevel gear 166 has a stub shaft 224extending laterally outwardly therefrom, and being journaled in a sleevebearing 226 which is carried by an axle-support member 228 mounted onthe frame 110. A portion of stub shaft 224 located outwardly of bearing226 is splined, or keyed to provide means for effecting a drivingconnection between the'shaft 224 and a wheel hub 230 which is axiallyslidlable thereon. The wheel hub 230 carries thereon a resilient tire232, and the wheel hub 230 is so shaped and formed as to define anannular recess 234. There is provided a compression spring 236 disposedlongitudinally between the axle-support 228 and the recess portion 234of the wheel hub 23%. The arrangement of wheel and axle is such that thehub 230 and tire 232 thereon is ar ranged for axial movement withrespect to the stub shaft 234. The wheel hub 230 is normally biasedtoward an outermost position by spring 236.

Because of the arrangement of parts,'whereby'the shafts 224 are arrangedinclined with respect to the horizontal, the wheels 112 and 114 may bereferred to as being inversely-cambered, or toed out. Thus, the tire 232on Wheel 114 engages both the bottom wall and one side wall of thegutter 18 and, likewise, the tire on the other wheel 112 engages boththe bottom wall and the opposite sidewall of gutter 114. The engagementof the tires on each of wheels 112 and 114 with both a side wall andbottom wall of the gutter provides for additional traction between thewheels and the walls of the gutter. In the preferred form, both of thewheels 112 and 114 are individually biased outwardly, althoughthebiasing of only a singie wheel outwardly will also provide improved re-S suits. The foregoing arrangement also provides that the tractor meanswill be centered with respect to the gutter 18, and the resilientmounting of the wheels accommodates for any irregularities that mayexist in the walls of the gutter. I

In operation, consider that the tractor and attached scoop means aremoving forwardly so as to move the scoop means along the gutter in thedirection towards the mass of waste therein. The tractor may be movingat a rate of about feet per minute, and the inertia of the deviceeffects movement of the scoop means into the waste matter untilsufficient resistance is obtained against the scoop means to effectovercoming of the bias of spring 200, whereupon the control rod 192,through engagement of pin 194 with yoke 158, effects movement of theyoke means 158 to the position shown in Figure 6 at which pointclutching together of .jaw elements 144 and 1'48 effects reversal of thedirection of movement of the tractor means. The tractor means will thenmove rearwardly from the position shown in Figure '6 to the positionshown in Figure 6A, during which movement the control rod 192 slidesthrough sleeve 196 and pin 194 movesinto slot 197 in sleeve 196 andeffects a pull-type connection between tractor means 46 and scoop means44. The tractor means 46 then pulls the scoop means 44 rearwardly with aload of waste trapped between the upright walls of the scoop means. Thetractor means continues movement along the gutter 13 andonto theelevator means 20. During the movement of the tractor means up theelevator, the tractor is supported from the wheels 220 which are ridingon tracks 28 and 30, and traction is obtained by means of pinion 178cooperating with rack 40.

The tractor and scoop means continue up the elevator until the scoopmeans are aligned with the bottom opening 42 in the elevator means,through which the captured waste matter drops for discharge from theelevator means. There is provided a fixed abutment "member, or stop, 240carried by elevator means 20 and positioned across the path of movementof tractor 46, against which the rearwardly projecting control plungerstrikes at the end of the run up the elevator means, and this effectsthe shifting of the yoke member 158 in a direction to e fiect clutchingof the clutch jaw member 142 and 146, and this causes reversal ofmovement of the tractor means and scoop means to cause the same to movedown the elevator and forwardly into the guttcr'18. This back and forthmovement of the tractor and scoop continues until the gutter 18 has beencleared of waste matter. In the event that there is any obstructionlying above the gutter, the striking of the safety member 58 against theobstruction will eifect reversal of movement of the tractor means.

In the starting up of the tractor means, it is desirable to have thedrive means and clutches in neutral, and the handle 56 affords means forputting the yoke 158 in a neutral position at which the motive means 116may be started up. While the instant disclosure contemplates use of aninternal combustion engine as the motive means 116, it will be evidentthat an electric motor may also be used with the drive means heredisclosed; and if .a reversible electric motor were to be used, it willbe evident that certain of the clutching elements disclosed could beeliminated, and motor switches and actuators therefor could besubstituted to effect the necessary reversals of direction of thetractor means.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of thisinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from theinvention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to coverall such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

1. A barn-gutter cleaner comprising scoop means arranged to be disposedin the gutter for movement there- 9 along, tractor means connected tosaid scoop means for moving said scoop means in either of oppositedirections through said gutter, so as to efiect loading of said scoopmeans when said scoop is moved in one direction and so as to move in theopposite direction to transport said loaded scoop means to a dischargestation where said scoop means may be unloaded, means for automaticallyregulating the length of the path of movement of said tractor means andscoop means along said gutter, and means responsive to the resistanceencountered by the scoop means, when moving in the direction foreffecting loading thereof, to effect reversal of the direction ofmovement of said tractor means.

2. A barn-gutter cleaner comprising scoop means arranged to be disposedin the gutter for movement therealong, tractor means connected to saidscoop means for moving said scoop means in either of opposite directionsthrough said gutter, so as to effect loading of said scoop means whensaid scoop is moved in one direction and so as to move in the oppositedirection to transport said loaded scoop means to a discharge stationwhere said scoop means may be unloaded, means for automaticallyregulating the length of the path of movement of said tractor means andscoop means along said gltter, and safety means extending above thegutter and responsive to engagement with a body spaced above the gutterfor effecting reversal of the direction of movement of said tractormeans.

3. A barn-gutter cleaner comprising, in combination: scoop meansarranged to be disposed in the gutter for movement therealong, saidscoop means comprising frame means dimensioned to enter a gutter andadapted to cooperate with said gutter to center the frame means therein,a fixed upright abutment wall on said frame means, a movable Wall memberspaced from said fixed abutment Wall and being pivoted on said frame,said movable wall being arranged to pivot to a first, loading, position,where said wall is disposed in substantially the direction of movementof said scoop means, and to a second, loaded, position where said Wallis disposed upright and transverse to the direction of movement of saidscoop means; tractor means connected to said scoop means for moving saidscoop means in either of opposite directions through said gutter, so asto effect loading of said scoop means when said scoop is moved in onedirection and so as to move in the opposite direction to transport saidloaded scoop means to a discharge station where said scoop means may beunloaded; means for automatically regulating the length of the path ofmovement of said tractor means and scoop means along said gutter; andsafety means extending above the fixed abutment wall of said scoopmeans, and being responsive to engagement with a body spaced above thegutter, for effecting reversal of the direction of movement of saidtractor means.

4. A barn-gutter cleaner comprising scoop means arranged to be disposedin the gutter for movement therealong, tractor means connected to saidscoop means for moving said scoop means in either of opposite directionsthrough said gutter, so as to elfect loading of said scoop means whensaid scoop is moved in one direction and so as to move in the oppositedirection to transport said loaded scoop means to a scoop means may beunloaded, drive means for said tractor means, clutching means arrangedto be disposed in a first position, wherein said drive means causes saidtractor means to move in one direction, and in a second position,wherein said drive means causes said tractor to move in the oppositedirection, and in a third position, wherein the drive means are inneutral, and toggle means for normally disposing said clutching meanseither in said first or second positions.

5. A barn-gutter cleaner comprising scoop means arranged to be disposedin the gutter for movement therealong,tractor means connected to saidscoop means for discharge station where said 19' moving said scoop meansin either of opposite directions through said gutter, so as to effectloading of said scoop means when said scoop is moved in one directionand so as to move in the opposite direction loaded scoop means to ascoop means may be unloaded, drive means for said tractor means,clutching means arranged to be disposed, in a first position, whereinsaid drive means causes said tractor means to move in one direction, andin a second position, wherein said drive means causes said .tractor,

to move in the opposite direction, and in a third position wherein thedrive means are in neutral, togglemeans for normally disposing saidclutching means either in said.

first or second positions, and a manual control for selectively efiecting movement of said clutching means to said neutral position.

6. A barn cleaning system comprising means defining a continuous gutteradapted to receive waste matter, scoop means movable in oppositedirections in said gutter, tractor means for moving said scoop means insaid gutter in one direction to load same with waste matter and then tomove said loaded scoop means in the opposite direction, gutter-shapedelongated elevator means aligned with said gutter and arranged so thatthe loaded scoop means will move therein after said loaded scoop meansleaves the gutter, said elevator means having a bottom opening along itslength through which the waste matter being moved by said scoop meansfalls, to effect unloading of said scoop means, track means forsupporting said tractor thereon as said tractor moves the scoop means upthe elevator means, and stop means for effecting reversal of movement ofsaid tractor means upon said scoop means being unloaded.

7. A barn cleaning system comprising means defining a continuous gutteradapted to receive waste matter, scoop means movable in oppositedirections in said gutter, tractor means for moving said scoop means insaid gutter in one direction to load same with waste matter and then tomove said loaded scoop means in the opposite direction, gutter-shapedelongated elevator means aligned with said gutter and arranged so thatthe loaded scoop means will move therein after said loaded scoop meansleaves the gutter, said elevator means having a bottom opening along itslength through which the waste matter being moved by said scoop meansfalls to effect unloading of said scoop means, track means forsupporting said tractor thereon as said tractor moves the scoop means upthe elevator means, stop means for efiecting reversal of movement ofsaid tractor means upon said scoop means being unloaded, and meansresponsive to the load imposed upon said scoop means for effectingreversal of movement of said tractor means upon said scoop means beingloaded.

8. A barn-gutter cleaner comprising scoop means arranged to be disposedin the gutter for movement therealong, tractor means connected to saidscoop means for moving said scoop means in either of opposite directionsthrough said gutter, so as to effect loading of said scoop means whensaid scoop is moved in one direction and so as to move in the oppositedirection to transport said loaded scoop means to a discharge stationwhere said scoop means may be unloaded, means for automaticallyregulating the length of the path of movement of said tractor means andscoop means along said gutter, means responsive to the resistanceencountered by the scoop means, when moving in the direction foreffecting loading thereof, to effect reversal of the direction ofmovement of said tractor means, and selectively adjustable means fordetermining the critical loading of said scoop means which will effectreversal of movement of said tractor means.

9. A barn cleaning system comprising means defining a continuous gutteradapted to receive waste matter, scoop means movable in oppositedirections in said gutter, tractor means arranged to enter into saidgutter and to move to transport said discharge station where saidalongsaid gutter for moving said scoop means in one direction to load samewith waste matter and then to move said loaded scoop means in theopposite direction, gutter-shaped elongated elevator means aligned withsaid gutter so that the tractor means and loaded scoop means will movetherein after said loaded scoop means leaves the gutter, said elevatormeans having a bottom opening along its length through which the wastematter being moved by said scoop means falls to effect unloading of saidscoop means, track means for supporting said tractor thereon as saidtractor moves the scoop means up the elevator means, and stop means foreffecting reversal of movement of said tractor means upon said scoopmeans being unloaded.

'10. A tractor including a pair of inversely-cambered traction wheelssplined to a pair of axles, which axles are axially immovable withrespect to each other, said wheels being arranged to be disposed in atrack having a bottom and spaced upright side walls, said wheels adaptedto provide for tractive engagement thereof with both the bottom and sidewalls of the track, means maintaining said pair of axles in axiallyfixed attitude with respect to each other, and resilient coil springmeans biasing at least one of said traction wheels axially outward onits axle and apart from the other traction wheel,'and each coil springmeans being positioned radially between the traction wheel which itbiases and the wheels axle.

11. A tractor including a pair of inversely-cambered traction wheelssplined to a pair of axles, which axles are axially immovable withrespect to each other, said wheels being arranged to be disposed in atrack having a bottom and spaced upright side walls, said wheels adaptedto' provide for tractive engagement thereof with both the bottom andside walls of the track, means maintaining said pair of axles in axiallyfixed attitude with respect to each other, and resilient coil springmeans biasing each traction wheel axially outward on its axle and apartfrom the other traction wheel, and each coil spring means beingpositioned radially between the traction wheel which it biases and thewheels axle.

12. A tractor including a pair of inversely-eambered traction wheelssplined to a pair of axles, which axles are axially immovable withrespect to each other, said wheels being arranged to be disposed in atrack having a bottom and spaced upright side walls, said wheels adaptedto provide for tractive engagement thereof with both the bottom and sidewalls of the track, means maintaining said pair of axles in axiallyfixed attitude with respect to each other, and a coil spring coaxial ofthe axle of each traction wheel biasing each traction wheel apart fromthe other traction wheel and toward the wheels associate upright trackwall, and each coil spring means being positioned radially between thetraction Wheel which it biases and the wheels axle.

vl3. A scoop for use in cleaning barn gutters, said I scoop comprisingframe means dimensioned to enter a gutter and adapted to cooperate withsaid gutter to center the frame means therein, a fixed upright abutmentwall on said frame means, a movable Wall member spaced from said fixedabutment wall and being pivoted on said frame, said movable wall beingarranged to pivot to a first, loading, position where said wall isdisposed substantially in the direction of movement of said scoop withina gutter, and to a second, loaded, position where said wall is disposedupright and transverse to the direction of movement of said scoop, andsaid movable wall member being so pivoted'and arranged as to be in saidfirst position when the scoop is being moved in a direction to effectloading of said scoop means and being in said second position when thescoop is being moved in the opposite direction.

14. A scoop for use in cleaning barn gutters, said scoop comprisingframe means dimensioned to enter a gutter and adapted to -cooperate withsaid gutter to cen- :ter the frame means therein, a fixed uprightabutment on said frame, said movable wall being arranged to pivot to afirst, loading, position where said wall is disposed substantially inthe direction of movement of said scoop within a gutter, and to asecond, loaded, position where said wall is disposed upright andtransverse to the direction of movement of said scoop, said movable wallmember being so pivoted and arranged so as to be in said first positionwhen the scoop is being moved in a direction to effect loading of saidscoop and being in said second position when the scoop is being moved inthe opposite direction, and a base plate fixedly carried by said frameand spaced from said fixed abutment wall arranged to engage the bottomof a barn gutter for movement thereover.

15. A scoop for use in cleaning barn gutters, said scoop comprisingframe means dimensioned to enter a gutter and adapted to cooperate withsaid gutter to center the frame means therein, a fixed upright abutmentwall on said frame means, a movable wall member spaced from said fixedabutment wall and being pivoted on said frame, said movable Wall beingarranged to pivot to a first, loading, position where said wall isdisposed substantially in the direction of movement of said scoop withina gutter, and to a second, loaded position where said wall is disposedupright and transverse to the direction of movement of said scoop, saidmovable wall member being so pivoted and arranged so as to bein saidfirst position when the scoop is being moved in a direction to elfectloading of said scoop and being in said second position when the scoopis being moved in the opposite direction, and a base plate fixedlycarried by said frame and spaced from said fixed abutment wall arrangedto engage the bottom of a barn gutter for movement thereover, said baseplate having an inclined upper surface and a tapered leading edge foreffecting efficient scooping-up of matter within the barn gutter.

16. A scoop for use in cleaning barn gutters, said scoop comprisingframe means dimensioned to enter a gutter and adapted to cooperate withsaid gutter to center the frame means therein, a fixed upright abutmentWall on said frame means, a movable wall member spaced from said fixedabutment wall and being pivoted on said frame, said movable wall beingarranged to pivot to a first, loading, position where said wall isdisposed substantially in the direction of movement of said scoop withina gutter, and to a second, loaded, position where said wall is disposedupright and transverse to the direction of movement of said scoop, saidmovable wall member being so pivoted and arranged so as to be in saidfirst position when the scoop is being moved in a direction to effectloading of said scoop means and being in said second position when thescoop is being moved in the opposite direction, a base plate fixedlycarried by said frame and spaced from said fixed abutment Wall arrangedto engage the bottom of a barn gutter for movement thereover, said baseplate having an inclined upper surface and a tapered leading edge foreffecting efficient scooping-up of matter within the barn gutter, andsaid movable wall member adapted to overlie closely adjacent theinclined upper surface of said base plate when said scoop is being movedin a direction to effect loading of said scoop.

17. A scoop for use in cleaning barn gutters, said scoop comprisingframe means dimensioned to enter a gutter and adapted to cooperate withsaid gutter to center the frame means therein, a fixed upright abutmentwall on said frame means, a movable Wall member spaced from saidfixed-abutment wall and being pivoted on said frame, said movable wallbeing arranged to pivot to a first, loading, position where said wall isdisposed substantially in the direction of movement of said scoop withina gutter, and to a second, loaded, position where said Wall is disposedupright and transverse to the direction of movement of said scoop, andan ofi-center pivot connection between the movable wall and said framemeans for efiecting movement of said movable wall to said first positionwhen said scoop is being moved in a direction to efifect loading of saidscoop, and to efiect movement to said second position when said scoop isbeing moved in the opposite direction.

18. A barn-gutter cleaner comprising scoop means arranged to be disposedin a gutter having a bottom and upright side walls for movementtherealong, tractor means connected to said scoop means for moving saidscoop means in either of opposite directions through said gutter, so asto effect loading of said scoop means when said scoop is moved in onedirection and so as to move in the opposite direction to transport saidloaded scoop means to a discharge station where said scoop means may beunloaded, said tractor means comprising a wheel supported frame whereinopposite wheels thereof are each disposed and arranged to simultaneouslycontact both the bottom and one side wall of the track to effecttractive engagement both between the wheel and the track bottom andbetween the wheel and track side, and resilient means operative forbiasing at least one of said wheels toward its associate upright trackside wall, and means for automatically regulating the length of the pathof movement of said tractor means and scoop means along said gutter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

